US International Trade Commission

The U.S. International Trade Commission is an independent federal agency that investigates how imports affect American industries and enforces certain trade laws. It does not set trade policy or negotiate agreements; instead, it acts more like a specialized court, holding hearings, weighing evidence, and issuing rulings on specific trade disputes brought before it.

Import injury cases make up much of the commission’s work. When domestic producers claim that foreign goods are being sold in the United States at unfairly low prices or with government subsidies, the commission determines whether those imports are causing real harm to American industry. This determination works alongside decisions from other federal bodies about tariffs and duties, since What Are Tariffs and How Do They Work? explains how those additional charges get applied once harm is found.

Intellectual property disputes are another major function. The commission can investigate claims that imported goods infringe patents, trademarks, or copyrights, and it has the power to block infringing products from entering the country entirely, separate from the criminal or civil courts that handle most IP litigation.

Tariff information and trade data round out the commission’s role. It maintains the detailed schedule that classifies traded goods and sets applicable duty rates, and it publishes independent economic analysis on how trade affects prices, jobs, and industries, feeding into broader public conversations about where tariff revenue goes and how it shapes the economy.